Using CATIA V5 PLM at an automotive components supplier demonstrates that German medium-sized fabrication and assembly companies can hold their lead by standardizing IT support.

IBM and Dassault Systemes have announced that Herbert Olbrich has choosen CATIA V5, a product lifecycle management (PLM) software, for digital product development. Herbert Olbrich is a 100% subsidiary of the automotive supplier Borgers. The company designs and develops components for the automotive industry, including trim panels, floor covering or roof-lining.

Another key activity is developing the tools, molds and machines necessary to design components and develop production lines, up to 300m long: for flexible floorings, wallpapers, adhesive tapes, technical and refined foils and other materials.

Today, the engineering processes are standardized on the CATIA V5 development platform, rather than being largely separate, as in the past.

To develop automotive components there are 30 CATIA V5 seats in use and 36 to develop production lines.

A milestone of the new common platform strategy was migrating 2D CAD software Medusa to the CATIA V5 3D system to develop the production lines.

A real feat if you consider that there are assemblies with more than 6.000 parts.

'The initial challenge was to transfer the drawings and load the models,' explained Michael Niestegge, head of IT at Herbert Olbrich.

'With Dassault Systemes, the problems were solved rapidly.

The loading of complete designs in the CATIA Graphical Representation format only takes 30 seconds.

The highly complex transfer of design models and handling sheet metal components with CATIA V5 is now a simple day to day task.' By migrating to 3D Olbrich gains many competitive advantages.

'By using CATIA V5 Generative Shape Optimizer (GSO) for particularly complex development exercises, we reduce development time per shape from twenty to twelve hours,' said Niestegge.

Model assembly happens mostly with the knowledge-ware in CATIA V5, which sets up a logic unit with parametric defined interfaces.

Experience and know-how from former projects are used for new projects.

Another advantage is that the human resources from both engineering areas can be planned and used centrally.

To establish interdisciplinary and transversal project teams, the use of the same system is of vital importance.

The next step in the project is the integration of CATIA V5 NC-connection for all design.

Due to 2D macros, Olbrich uses GraphCam for NC-programming and Tebis software to program freeform surfaces.

'We aim to extend standardization from design to development,' explained Niestegge.

'Benchmarks carried out with the support of our partner DESYS demonstrate that the CATIA V5 NC-connection solution is functionally much better than what we currently have in place.' Martin Grunau, director PLM Channel Development, Dassault Systemes, Germany, said: 'Implementing CATIA V5 at Olbrich demonstrates that medium-sized fabrication and assembly companies in Germany can defend their leading position by standardizing IT support, Olbrich's choice of CATIA V5 shows that we provide PLM solutions and concepts tailor made for the SMB market, bringing real business benefits to our customers.' The implementation of the CATIA V5 solution and training at Olbrich were looked after by Dassault Systemes' business partner DESYS.